CSOs holding governments to account (GSDRC Helpdesk Research Report 1299)

Abstract

Query What is the range of interventions that CSOs currently deliver to help people in developing countries hold governments and others to account and influence decisions that affect poor people’s lives? Overview This rapid review illustrates the range of interventions that Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) are currently undertaking to increase government accountability. It summarises the interventions of over 30 different CSOs, operating in different sectors and across a range of contexts. CSO interventions are categorised into: legal mechanisms, media campaigns, public hearings/social audits, citizen report cards, community scorecards, community monitoring, research and advocacy, open data, crowdsourcing and coalition-building